mathan erhardt

A lot of people have a lot of thoughts about the trailer for Lanterns. I think it looks pretty great, but I also understand anyone who’s picked up a Green Lantern comic in the past two decades might feel differently.

I think the inclusion of some characters will guarantee the show’s success.

And yeah, I’m avoiding the online discourse. Green Lantern “fans” are a pretty prime example of early internet toxic fandom. (I’m old enough to remember H.E.A.T.)

Thanks. Last year I read Hal’s adventurers from his first appearance through 1979, which was…an experience. It was fun seeing the concepts of “Green Lantern” and “Green Lantern Corps” being (re)developed issue by issue.

I’m expecting Lanterns to be a smash success. Accordingly, I’m expecting to see multiple couples doing the couple costume thing as Thicc Sinestro and Magot at Halloween parties this year. I also imagine Dusty and Frank will be equally popular.

So yeah that’s the list. I have faith that everyone involved with Lanterns did their research and knows the importance of characters like Itty, Dovey, Moon and Windy. They’re professionals and want to honor the source material. And William Hand breaking the fourth wall is so much of that material.

A close up of the lower right corner of a Green Lantern comic book cover, featuring a Guardian of the Universe looking sad and shedding a tear.

A Guardian of the Universe is lamenting the death of Hal Jordan to Tomar-Re, a different Green Lantern. The Guardian is wiping his eyes and shedding a tear. A shocked Tomar-Re thinks to himself “…weeping…!”

Spoiler alert; I’m firmly in the “Hal Jordan is gonna die in Lanterns” camp. Thusly, I’m hoping we get an appearance by this sensitive, weepy-ass Guardian of the Universe. Guardians of the Universe are usually dispassionate purveyors of justice, but this guy’s got the waterworks going.

A comic panel featuring Gil Kane at this drawing board addressing the reader directly.

Another panel of Gil Kane at this table, drawing the story that’s being read and talking to the reader about the story so far.

Yet another panel of Gil Kane, drawing at his table, talking to reader and discussing the recent developments in the story.

A fourth panel of Gil Kane at his table. This time he’s not drawing and he has one foot his chair, leaning in to talk to the reader about what just happened in the story.

Ok, so I’m flexible on this one. In the comics Gil Kane would pop up and tell is about the story. Kind of hold the readers hand. I don’t need Gil Kane, but I do hope Lanterns has cutaways to the writer or director of the episode explaining things or pointing stuff out between scene.

Hal Jordan looking at his sidekick Itty who is resting on Hal’s shoulder. Itty resembles a starfish with a tail. Hal think “That’s odd! I thought I heard someone repeating my oath…Itty?!?”

Look leaving Itty, Hal Jordan’s alien sidekick out the 2011 movie was understandable; it wanted to stay under 2 hours. But leaving Itty out of an eight episode prestige television series would be a huge red flag. Itty is basically at the foundation of the Hal Jordan mythos.

A panel from a Green Lantern comic featuring the scoreboard for the annual popularity contest determine the most evil citizen of Qward. Sinestro is in second place with 75 compared to Gypo-Bax’s 88. Magot, a Qwardian wearing a derby hat and with a cigar in is mouth speaks to Sinestro. Magot says “Listen Sin! As your campaign manager I’m warning you! You need a last-minute surge of popularity to win this contest! But you can do it! Sinestro thinks “I mist win! Sinestro can never be satisfied with second place in anything!”

A panel of Sinestro speaking to Magot, his derby sporting, cigar chewing campaign manager. Sinestro says “Sometimes I think your enthusiasm for evil is even greater than my own! After all, Magot, you’re only my campaign manager in this contest-“ Magot replies “Aw, I just get so excited! Sorry boss!”

Of course if Sinestro, thicc or otherwise, is showing up you need his campaign manager Magot to make an appearance. You don’t want to put Magot in every episode, because then you run the risk of that derby sporting, cigar chewing Qwardian campaign manager stealing the spotlight. But he gotta pop in.

A triumphant and muscular Sinestro flexes.

We know Sinestro is going to show but, but I hope we get thicc Sinestro. Not trying to body shame, but if I had my druthers Sinestro would always be thicc.

A panel featuring Hal Jordan meeting the Guardians of the Universe for the first time. One of them is speaking to him and says “…As a result, when we could receive information again, we found that an individual named Green Lantern had come into possession of Abin Sur’s Power Battery.” The implication being that he’s never heard the name “Green Lantern” before.

I also hope that this Guardian of the Universe makes an appearance. The one who has never heard of a Green Lantern. I’m assuming it was either that Guardian’s first day on the job or maybe he’s a nepo hire? It is just a shock to see a Guardian unfamiliar with the concept of “Green Lantern.”

A full page of non-costumed villain William Hand aka Black Hand breaking the fourth wall and explaining to the reader his motivations. I refuse to transcribe the entire thing because Silver Age comics are full of chunks of text. But it’s six panels of William Hand yammering on and on about himself, directly to the reader.

Another panel featuring Black Hand, this time in costume. He says “A surprise to me? Of course not! Reader, Black Hand is one costumed villain you mustn’t underrate! To prove my point, let me explain something to you about myself…”

William Hand, aka Black Hand. But specifically William Hand breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience. If you’re going to go comic accurate and have William Hand breaking the fourth wall to talk about himself and his motivations, what is the point?

Hal Jordan in costume with his five o’clock shadow, being rousted by a couple normal non-space cops, while three hippies Dovey, Moon and Windy offer him words of support.

Now obviously if you have Dirtbag Hal Jordan, you need Dirtbag Hal Jordan’s supportive hippie friends Dovey, Moon and Windy. Again, three iconic character whose inclusion in a show called “Lantern” should be a forgone conclusion.

A panel featuring Hal Jordan in Green Lantern costume, with a five o’clock shadow. His thought bubble reads “They despise me! I can’t blame them…I despise myself!”

Dirtbag Hal Jordan. This is a really scuzzy Hal Jordan who skulks in parks and sports a five o’clock shadow. He gets hassled by the law. And this is years before Superman III made being dirtbag version of yourself kind of cool.

Hal, in costume, looking at his frozen Ferris Aircraft coworkers Dusty and Frank

Hal’s coworkers Dusty and Frank. Obviously it would be impossible to adapt Green Lantern to the screen without Dusty and Frank. Was their absence what doomed 2011 Green Lantern movie? Almost certainly, yes.

A lot of people have a lot of thoughts about the trailer for Lanterns. I think it looks pretty great, but I also understand anyone who’s picked up a Green Lantern comic in the past two decades might feel differently.

I think the inclusion of some characters will guarantee the show’s success.

A small bag of “Flavor Swap” Cool Ranch Doritos flavored Ruffles.

A small bag of “Flavor Swap” Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream flavored Doritos.

A small bag of “Flavor Swap” Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue flavored Cheetos.

I’m intrigued…and relieved I didn’t have to commit to full size bags.

As a teen living west of the Mississippi these magazines were my lifeline to Hip-Hop. I still have issues of The Source, XXL, Blaze and Scratch to this day.

I’m cautiously optimistic. I’ve been burned by GL on a screen before.

Damn. As a dude who devoured liner notes in the 90s, Bob Power’s name popped up frequently on so many albums that shaped my musical tastes and honestly me period. He was instrumental to Hip-Hop’s Golden Age & his discography is full of classics, which I’ll be listening to tonite.

R.I.P. Bob Power.

{Walking in Memphis voice}

Um…spoiler alert?

A person walking down the sidewalk with a falcon on their arm.

Thank you so much for this! I live downtown and about a year ago I passed a falconer on the street and was bewildered. Your post solved a mystery.

Always appreciate an Ice Man McGee reference.

A photo of a pint of Jeni’s Bridgerton collab ice cream, Earl Grey Crème Brûlée flavor.

Honestly, this Jeni’s flavor is sublime. It is the best of the Bridgerton collab flavors. So smooth but with depth of flavors. The perfect amount of texture that just pops. Just wow.

The Wire was shot in Baltimore. So they could cast local actors in supporting roles. The Pitt is shot in Los Angeles, with some exterior scenes shot in Pittsburgh.

Got the chicken pox my senior year in high school. Completely covered in them. To the point that when I went to the doctor (pediatrician, because they handle chicken pox) I had to go in the back door so I wouldn’t scare and traumatize children in the waiting room.

Was that dose 1 or dose 2? Dose 1 took me completely out. Dose 2 was also bad, but I was bracing for it. Dose 1 was the sucker punch from hell.

They gave out “free burger” coupons after that. A friend made copies and we ate free burgers for weeks.

Troop 6000

Don't forget Troop 6000 when ordering your Girl Scout cookies this year. They are a troop specifically for girls in the shelter system in NYC. The troop also helps families link up with new troops once they are able to find housing.

www.girlscoutsnyc.org/en/discover/...